{"id":7326,"date":"2020-05-04T07:00:49","date_gmt":"2020-05-04T05:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/?p=7326"},"modified":"2022-09-05T19:24:31","modified_gmt":"2022-09-05T17:24:31","slug":"how-to-manage-your-online-reputation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/public-relations-blog\/how-to-manage-your-online-reputation\/","title":{"rendered":"How to manage your online reputation"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_medium\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_grid cols_3-1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-image align_center\"><div class=\"w-image-h\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" src=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/shutterstock_655485880-e1588250537949.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"DSM Digital School of Marketing - online reputation\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/shutterstock_655485880-e1588250537949.png 700w, https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/shutterstock_655485880-e1588250537949-600x400.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>Managing your <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/blog\/the-best-way-to-distribute-your-content-online\/\">online<\/a> reputation essentially means responding to comments made by the community. Since the web is built on the principle of user-generated content \u2013 media created about your brand by your community \u2013 you need to have a good response strategy in place to address not only your own channels but also the peripheral buzz that is created by customers and fans. Always try to keep your response proportional to the original comment, whether good or bad.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>If the response is positive:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Respond with a quick thank you or acknowledgement<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>This is very important; many <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/blog\/how-digital-marketers-use-data-to-segment-target-customers\/\">marketers<\/a> mistakenly believe that they don&#8217;t need to interact with positive comments because they aren&#8217;t harming the brand. However, if a customer takes the time to write a positive blog article about you return the favour by leaving a comment and linking to their blog. Make sure that the comment is from an actual persona and not a spammer.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Promote good comments but don&#8217;t overdo it<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Don&#8217;t report every single bit of praise that you get; sav that action for the really stellar comments.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Keep the good comments flowing<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Do this by adding information, opinions and personal messages to the conversation.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>A little thanks goes a long way<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If somebody has gone well out of their way to promote your brand, like getting five friends to sign up for your service, find a way to thank them publicly \u2013 giving them a discount, a special present or something else appropriate.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-video align_none ratio_16x9 has_iframe\"><div class=\"w-video-h\"><iframe title=\"Vimeo video player\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/316530528?autoplay=0&loop=0&autopause=0&color=00adef&portrait=0&byline=1&title=1&controls=1&muted=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen\" allowfullscreen loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe><\/div><div class=\"w-video-icon\" style=\"font-size:1.5rem;background:rgba(0,0,0,0.5);color:#fff\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h2><strong>If the feedback is negative:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Treat every comment with respect<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Recognise that people may have legitimate complaints and take each individual one seriously on its own merit. It is better to be overly careful about this than to let a legitimate problem slip.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Apologise sincerely and directly<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>However, keep it in proportion to the complaint or issue. Over- or under-apologising will make you look trite and disinterested. Apologise once and move on.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Don&#8217;t be defensive<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Even if you think the person complaining is wrong or inaccurate, you will damage your brand&#8217;s reputation even more by being defensive about the complaint in a public arena.<\/p>\n<p>Even if you respond privately and are defensive, you risk angering that potential customer who could repose what you&#8217;ve written to them.<\/p>\n<p>Stay level headed by acknowledging the person&#8217;s point of view and calmly and objectively stating your side of the story. It&#8217;s worth noting that other people viewing the interaction are more likely to side with an individual than with a business.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Address the problem out in the open<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Do this by being honest about what is going on and take the communication offline as soon as possible. Offer suitable compensation in line with what you would typically offer. Refuse to be drawn into a public argument.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Turn the negativity to your advantage <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Make this happen by showing that you re genuine about wanting to help solve the problem. Many companies have created extremely loyal customers by addressing their dissatisfaction quickly and effectively. But try to avoid turning the issue into an overblow PR stunt because it will look artificial.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Measure your responses<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If somebody is spreading misinformation or otherwise attempting to smear your brand image, respond levelly and present your case with facts and details to back up your point. If the commenter persists and will not listen to reason, consider removing them from the community or requesting a take-down notice from your Internet Service Provider. Don&#8217;t react by making excuses. Just state the facts and keep yourself from getting drawn in emotionally.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Never delete or hide negative comments<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Online content can be archived and retrieved, even if you remove it. You will look extremely bad to your customers if you try to cover up bad feedback or pretend that an issue doesn&#8217;t exist.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, bring it out into the open, deal with it definitely and then rely on your responsiveness and demonstrated fairness to deal with any later issues. The way that you handle a negative comment often determines whether people are convinced of your credibility.<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/contact-us\/\">Get in touch with the Digital School of Marketing<\/a><\/h2>\n<p>Want to learn more about managing the reputation of your company? If you do, then you need to study our Digital Public Relations Course. For more information, please follow this <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/courses\/digital-public-relations-course\/\">link<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/courses\/digital-public-relations-course\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-7301 size-shop_single\" src=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Public-Relations-1-600x96.jpg\" alt=\"DSM Digital School of Marketing - Public Relations\" width=\"600\" height=\"96\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Public-Relations-1-600x96.jpg 600w, https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Public-Relations-1-300x48.jpg 300w, https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Public-Relations-1-1024x164.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Public-Relations-1-768x123.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Public-Relations-1.jpg 1250w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-btn-wrapper align_justify\"><a class=\"w-btn us-btn-style_2\" href=\"#enquiry\"><span class=\"w-btn-label\">Enquire Today<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><h3 class=\"w-text us_custom_6caa4608 has_text_color\"><span class=\"w-text-h\"><span class=\"w-text-value\">Blog Categories<\/span><\/span><\/h3><div class=\"wpb_text_column us_custom_5cd26a65\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><ul>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-1\"><a href=\"\/blog\/content-marketing\/\">Content Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-2\"><a href=\"\/blog\/digital-marketing\/\">Digital Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-2\"><a href=\"\/blog\/cyber-security-blog\/\">Cyber Security<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-2\"><a href=\"\/blog\/graphic-design-blog\/\">Graphic Design<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-3\"><a href=\"\/blog\/public-relations\/\">Public Relations<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-4\"><a href=\"\/blog\/seo\/\">SEO<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-5\"><a href=\"\/blog\/social-media-marketing\/\">Social Media Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-5\"><a href=\"\/blog\/web-design-blog\/\">Web Design<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><h3 class=\"w-text us_custom_6caa4608 has_text_color\"><span class=\"w-text-h\"><span class=\"w-text-value\">You might also like<\/span><\/span><\/h3><div class=\"w-html\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/social-media-marketing-blog\/zero-moment-of-truth-benefit-social-media-marketing\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Use the Zero Moment of Truth to Benefit your Social Media Marketing<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/digital-marketing-blog\/your-complete-guide-to-ppc-marketing-basic\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Your Complete Guide to PPC Marketing Basics. 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